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You are here: Home / Activities / Clay Portraits with Nature’s Loose Parts

Clay Portraits with Nature’s Loose Parts

September 13, 2019 By Suzette Salmon Leave a Comment

Play with clay – Reggio inspired activity for children two years and older.

Clay is a material that should be used in all childcare environment. We love to have the children manipulate clay. They pinch, roll, knead and mold it into different shapes or structures.

They were invited to make portraits with clay, small branches, straw, and acorn caps.  The clay circles were pre-cut for them.  Children choose the parts they wanted to apply to their structure: some included nose others left it out.

The self-managed project was loved by them all.  They enjoyed making the portraits with loose parts they collected on their nature walk.

 

Leave the portraits undisturbed to dry for at least 48-72  hours. After they are dried, the children can take home. Like any clay piece: a mug, plate or figurine clay will break.  I advise wrapping in bubble wrap when sending home.

Have fun setting up an invitation for the children in your care – Miss Sue

Filed Under: Activities, Creative Learning, Nature Play, Outdoors Tagged With: children portraits, clay portraits, loose parts, nature portraits, reggio emilia, reggio inspired, reggio portraits, self portrait

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lilbebeacademy

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Oct 7

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Here’s an example of our cleanup process. The bell goes off for lunchtime and the children automatically start singing and cleaning up (I don’t usually sing but they do). Some are singing only for the song while others are busy cleaning up like ‘the  little red hen.’ A beautiful example of when you work alone and the children are your teammates. 
Yes, they’re my little learners and teammates - all hands on deck. We have a wonderful symbiotic relationship harmoniously working together for the good of the environment.
It makes this work enjoyable and it also helps all to learn and appreciate each other - especially when you have a yard this size. 
#earlychildhoodeducator 
#naturebasedlearning 
#outdoorclassroom 
#homechildcare 
#edulallie

Here’s an example of our cleanup process. The bell goes off for lunchtime and the children automatically start singing and cleaning up (I don’t usually sing but they do). Some are singing only for the song while others are busy cleaning up like ‘the little red hen.’ A beautiful example of when you work alone and the children are your teammates.
Yes, they’re my little learners and teammates - all hands on deck. We have a wonderful symbiotic relationship harmoniously working together for the good of the environment.
It makes this work enjoyable and it also helps all to learn and appreciate each other - especially when you have a yard this size.
#earlychildhoodeducator
#naturebasedlearning
#outdoorclassroom
#homechildcare
#edulallie
...

8 0

lilbebeacademy

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Oct 3

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Beautiful slow approach to my early years classroom. I work alone and it’s very important that we all enjoy the space. Children are allowed to move materials, gather, play, learn and then clean up after. 
- A small mixed-age ratio provides many opportunities for discoveries, play and lots of hours outdoors. 
-This was a rainy day, we also harvest rain for their unending play. 
#playbasedlearning 
#mixedagelearning 
#outdoorclassroom 
#naturebasedlearning 
#edulallie

Beautiful slow approach to my early years classroom. I work alone and it’s very important that we all enjoy the space. Children are allowed to move materials, gather, play, learn and then clean up after.
- A small mixed-age ratio provides many opportunities for discoveries, play and lots of hours outdoors.
-This was a rainy day, we also harvest rain for their unending play.
#playbasedlearning
#mixedagelearning
#outdoorclassroom
#naturebasedlearning
#edulallie
...

14 2

lilbebeacademy

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Sep 30

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Nature gives children something real to think about. Listen to the children - bumblebees and butterflies like nectar too.
🍃
#naturebased
#natureschool 
#learningforlife 
#inhomechildcare 
#edulallie

Nature gives children something real to think about. Listen to the children - bumblebees and butterflies like nectar too.
🍃
#naturebased
#natureschool
#learningforlife
#inhomechildcare
#edulallie
...

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Sep 12

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Try this if you’ve been trying to get your children outdoors!

Try this if you’ve been trying to get your children outdoors! ...

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